Link cuff-button.



' Patented Nov. 9, 1909. 1

\A/ITNEEEEE UN TTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE W. MOREI-IOUSE, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO B. A. BALLOU & COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 015 PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

LINK CUFF-BUTTON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Application filed March 25, 1909. Serial N 0. 485,658.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE W. MORE- HOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Link Cuff-Buttons, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Like reference letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the blank from which the bent post of my improved link cufI button is made. Fig. 2 is a cross section of one of the smaller ears of said post, as seen on line m. of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the post as seen on line 1) '2) of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross section of one of the larger ears of said post, as seen on line a of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the post of my improved link button, after the blank shown in Fig. 1 has been bent and curved into proper shape. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the post shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an inverted plan View of the bottom of the post shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a view of the shell or cup, which, when finished, constitutes one of the buttons, said view being partly in elevation and partly in section upon the major diameter of the same. Fig. 9 is a similar view of the shell or cup which, when finished, constitutes the other button. Fig. 10 is a view of said link button, the post and integral parts thereof being shown in side elevation and the two buttons being shown in diametrical section, with the flanges of the same rolled over into contact with the respective ears of the post. Fig. 11 is a View, partly in top plan and partly in section on line 3 y of Fig. 10, showing the inner surface of the larger button and the engagement of the larger ears with the turned flange of said shell or cup. Figs. 12 and 18 are detail views, illustrating the differences in the roll of the flange at the points a: and z of Fig. 11.

My invention relates to link cuff buttons and especially to that kind which has a curved post supporting rigidly the buttons upon the opposite ends thereof; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of the elements or parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

A blank is formed from a sheet of metal by means of a die and cutter, and comprises the following parts, all in one piece :a bar a, a cross bar Z), Z), at one end of the bar a, substantially at right angles thereto and terminating at its ends in wings a; and another cross bar (Z, d, at the opposite end of the bar a, substantially at right angles thereto and terminating at its ends in wings 6, all said parts being in one plane. The bar a has the central corrugation f on two opposite surfaces thereof. The corrugations f, f, serve to stiffen the bar a so as to insure the desired degree of rigidity. The wings e are larger than the wings 0, and all the wings are made with a double bevel, terminating in an obtuse edge, as indicated at g and h, respectively, which edge is disposed in an arc, of a curvature hereinafter described.

The blank so formed and shaped as described and illustrated in Fig. l is bent so that the wings c, c, extend in a plane 90 from their original plane, and this is accomplished by giving to each end of the cross bar Z), 6, a quarter-twist, as represented at Z) 5 in Fig. 6. In like manner, the wings e, e, are brought to extend in a plane at right angles to their former plane by means of a quarter-twist of the two ends of the cross bar (Z, cl, as represented at d, cl, in Fig. 7. The bar a is bent into a slight curve, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10. The completed post, thus formed from the blank, is separately shown in Fig. 5, in which A designates the curved rigid post having the corrugations f on two opposite sides; G, C, the smaller wings; E, E, the larger wings; Z), Z), the twisted cross bar, which connects the wings G, C, to the post A; and d, d, the twisted cross bar which connects the wings E, E, to the post A.

A metallic shell or cup F, which may be made of gold-plated stock, is struck up by a die and plunger and has an annular flange p. A smaller shell or cup G is struck up in a similar manner with an annular flange g. The shell F constitutes the front button F, and the shell Gr constitutes the back button G. The front button may be larger than the back button and is so represented in the drawing, but they may be of the same size, if desired, and they may be either of the same or different patterns or styles. In the drawings they are both shown as oval.

The curvature of the outer periphery of the wings E, E, is such as to enable said wings to fit within the annular flange of the cup or shell F ;'and the curvature of the outer periphery of the Wings O, C, is such as to enable said wings to fit within the annular flange g of the cup or shell G.

The parts are assembled by inserting the wings E, E, loosely within the cup or shell F, and the wings C, C, loosely within the cup or shell G. The annular flange 79 is turned over by a suitable tool into an inwardly directed roll, designated as P, in contact with the surface of the wings E, E; and the annular flange g is turned over by a suitable tool into an inwardly directed roll, designated as Q, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

That portion of the flange p of the cup or shell F which is bent over into contact with each wing E forms a roll of a sufficient di ameter to receive the wing E under it and to secure said wing in position so that it cannot be separated or detached from the front button F. This construction is represented in Fig. 11 in plan and in Fig. 12 (on an enlarged scale) in elevation and cross section. That portion of the flange p of the cup or shell F which lies between the wings E, E, has the roll of a much reduced diameter, as seen at P in Figs. 11 and 13. This difference in the diameters of the roll at P and P results in the formation of an intermediate shoulder P in proximity to the tips of each wing E, as seen in Fig. 11. These shoulders P serve as stops to prevent any movement of the wings E, E, in their own plane within the front button F and therefore hold the post A rigidly against any rotatory movement. It is thus seen that the post A is rigidly and firmly secured to the front button F, without the use of solder and in such a manner that it cannot move out of position within the front button.

The narrow roll P, shown in Fig. 11 (but most plainly for present purposes in Fig. 13), is useful to prevent the accumulation of dirt and foreign substances beneath the turned flange. If the turned flanges were rolled over with the same diameter around the entire inner side of the front button, it i would, in all places, except where filled by the wings E, E, afford a space where dirt, lint and other foreign substances would collect, which is a disadvantage very important to avoid. In like manner and for the same purposes, the roll of the flange g of the cup or shell G is formed.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The improved blank for cufi-link button-posts herein described, consisting of a central bar, a cross bar extending at right angles from one end of the central bar on two opposite sides thereof; a wing at each end of said cross bar at right angles thereto; a second cross bar extending at right angles from the other end of said central bar on two opposite sides thereof; and a wing at each end of said second cross oar at right angles thereto, all made in a single piece of metal in one plane.

2. The improved post for cuff link buttons made in one piece of metal and comprising a curved post; a cross bar having a quarter-twist near each end thereof and projectin at right angles from said postat one end of a quarter-twist near each end thereof and projecting at right angles from said post at the other end of the latter; a wing at each end of the first named cross bar extending on two opposite sides thereof at rightangles thereto; and a wing at each end of the second named cross bar at right'angles thereto, extending on two opposite sides thereof.

3. In combination with a pair of cuff buttons, a curved rigid post connecting the same and having at each of its ends two oppo' sitely directed T-shaped heads in alinement with each other at right angles to said post, the two alined T-shaped heads of each end being secured to the contiguous button solely by the pressure of a bent edge of such button, and said post and the four T-shaped heads thereof being in one piece.

4. In a cuff button, the combination of a rigid post having at,each end, integral there with, two T-shaped heads in alinement with each other and oppositely directed at right angles with the post; a cup-shaped button having an annular flange of uniform width adapted to receive one pair of said T-shaped heads of the post, which flange is turned over upon said T-shaped heads into a roll of suflicient diameter to receive and embrace said post-heads, but in that portion thereof 1 intermediate said post-heads turned over ;into a close roll; and another cup-shaped button having a similar annular flange adapted to receive and embrace the other pair of T-shaped heads of the post by a similar roll, but in that portion thereof inftermediate said post-heads formed into a close roll.

I 5. In a cuff button, the combination of a curved rigid post, having at each end a cross ,bar directed at right angles with said post; 'an integral wing at each end of said cross ibar extending at right angles therewith; a

concavo-convex button having an annular the latter; a second cross bar having flange and adapted to receive the pair of receive and secure the other pair of Wings 10 wings of one end of the post, which flange at the opposite end of said post.

contiguous to said wing is rolled over to se- In testimony whereof I atfix my signature cure the same in position along the outer in presence of two witnesses. edge and the two tips of each of said wlngs, EUGENE W MOREHOUSE respectively, but rolled over into a close roll in that portion between the wings of said Witnesses:

pair; and another concavo-convex button HOWARD A. LAMPREY, similarly flanged and rolled and adapted to WARREN R. PERCE. 

